Cheers and jeers: Jan. 4, 2013

Saturday

Jan 5, 2013 at 6:00 AM

Sweet success — Sugar season is nearing an end, and the farmers say this has been a successful one.

Sweet success — Sugar season is nearing an end, and the farmers say this has been a successful one.That is good news for the farmers, of course. But it is also good news for everyone throughout our region. Sugar cane is still a huge part of the local economy, and its success or failure in any given year has ripples through the area.“We don't know if this will be a record-breaking crop, but it's high volume,” said American Sugar Cane League General Manager Jim Simon. “The sugar content started weak, but since that time, the sugar per volume has improved.”While sugar prices are down a bit this year, the good news about the bountiful harvest should see our many local farmers through another successful season.The mild winter last year played a part in this year's good harvest, the farmers said, and even the rain and winds we got from Hurricane Isaac couldn't spoil the crop.Congratulations on a good year. May next year be even better.

Local representation — If you watched the Cotton Bowl on Friday night, you might have caught a glimpse of some local faces.Before the game and during halftime of the gridiron matchup between Texas A&M and Oklahoma, Terrebonne High School's dance team, the Crimson Belles, performed.The team members and their supporters raised the money for the Belles to go on the trip, but everyone in our area got to take a little pride in seeing these talented youngsters on television.It's a great tribute to the quality of the team's hard work and dedication that the members were able to earn such a remarkable distinction.Job well done!

Grinches attack — Apparently, nothing is off limits to thieves and vandals.A manger scene at the Houma courthouse was vandalized a few weeks ago, an act that included the theft of the baby Jesus figure.The stunning crime wasn't even the first local instance of this sort.“This is something that's happened several times over the last couple of years,” said Anne Picou, coordinator of Terrebonne Parish's downtown development. “Last year our Joseph walked off at some point.”Even ignoring the religious symbolism of the decorations, it is a shame that anyone would damage or steal items meant only to brighten the holiday for passersby.It might be nothing more serious or sinister than a prank, but it was certainly a Scrooge-worthy act.

How can this be? — Those who have their doubts about oilfield safety had their arguments reinforced recently when an offshore company admitted it had used coffee filters to doctor water samples from the Gulf of Mexico.The company, W&T Offshore, will have to pay $1 million in fines and community-service fees for its crimes, which were used to cover up its dumping of oil and grease in the water.This episode is not typical of the offshore oilfield, but it is enough to fuel questions yet again over safety in an industry that is relied on in large part to monitor its own practices.Thankfully, in this case, the culprits were caught and punished.

Editorials represent the opinions of the newspaper, not of any individual.